The assassination of the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani put an end to the prospects of the deal between Washington and Tehran.
About this writes the publication “Foreign Policy”.
The belligerent approach of Donald Trump has not made Iran more compliant, the article says. Attempts to put pressure did not materialize. Moreover, Iran was able to develop immunity to this approach and even turned against the United States. So, even those Iranian politicians who were committed to a deal with Washington now oppose it. At the same time, the economy of the Islamic Republic is not in a “free fall”, as Trump desired. Moreover, signs of economic recovery have appeared, domestic production and employment are growing.
“Trump’s belligerent rhetoric and actions did not make Iran more inclined to make a deal, but they undermined any Iranian officials who supported negotiations with the United States. On purpose or not, Trump’s political decisions have closed the potential for diplomacy. The political costs faced in Tehran for advocating for negotiations are now too high. This is evident from how Iranian officials reacted to the recent exchange of prisoners”, – the publication writes.
The exchange was held in December 2019. At the same time, high-level meetings were held between US and Iranian officials, which is an extremely rare occurrence. Then there was a chance for a deal between Washington and Tehran, but everything collapsed when the American armed forces killed the commander of the elite Iranian unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Al-Quds Qassem Soleimani. Since then, Iran has been hostile to everything related to the United States.
“Trump is mistaken if he believes that “maximum pressure” brings him closer to an agreement with Iran. This policy does not lead to the surrender or collapse of Iran, but strengthens hostilities between the United States and Iran and constantly keeps the United States on the brink of war in the Middle East. Trump, who promised in 2016 to pull the US out of the costly Middle Eastern wars, nearly went to war last June and again in January because of its decision to aggravate relations with Iran”, – the publication emphasizes.